North Korea fires ballistic missile into Japanese waters days after Kim Jong-Un warned the U.S. had ‘declared war’
Missile launched this morning described as 'grave threat' to Japan's national security
HERMIT dictatorship North Korea has launched a missile into Japanese waters for the first time in what has been described as a "grave threat" to the country.
The missile, which was launched just before 8am Wednesday (11pm Tuesday British time), appeared to be a medium-range 'Rodong' rocket.
It flew around 620 miles before landing in the Japanese exclusion zone, the South Korean military who tracked the missile said.
Tokyo has "strongly protested" the unprecedented show of force.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said the country's self-defence would be heightened in response.
The launch showed Kim Jong-Un's ambition to "directly and broadly attack neighbouring countries and target several places in the Republic of Korea such as ports and airfields", South Korean military chiefs said, referring to their country's official title.
The missile may even have been one of two that were launched.
U.S Strategic Command said it had detected two missiles, but that one exploded just after it was fired.
The threat comes as the U.S prepares for what it calls defensive training manoeuvres in South Korean territory later this month.
North Korea typically protests against these annual war games, considering them direct threats of invasion.
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